Whether Obama wore a scarf or not, this incident is evident of the fact that the actions of women are interpreted and analyzed through the lens of patriarchy and detached from the political and social conditions that enable the oppression of women.

Back in 2007, I researched then-candidate Barack Obama's roots and identified one of his third great-grandparents, Fulmoth Kearney of Ireland, as the most recent immigrant on his mother's side of the family.

Back in 2009, I traced the then-new First Lady's family tree back four or five generations on all branches, but of all the ancestors I uncovered, it was a great-great-great-grandmother named Melvina Shields McGruder who captured my attention.

October 16 is the fifth annual #SpiritDay organized by GLAAD (formerly the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) to "go purple" and take a stand against bullying and show support of the LGBT(lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) youth.

Just as a late spring thaw was finally settling in, I had the chance to catch up with the first lady, to ask her some important questions about leadership, collaboration and the balancing act of family, work and life. Her answers and insights reinforce her determination to get the job done.